Filler for polygonal shaped articles

ABSTRACT

A corner protector for an article of furniture or similar article. The protector is formed from a cut and scored blank which is folded to define a tube consisting of a pair of panels connected along a fold line and having an included angle which can vary according to the corner angle of the article of furniture. A panel extends from distal portions of each of said panels and laterally of the sides of the article, each of said panels being connected to flanking panels folded into facing relationship and having end flaps thereof folded over and under the furniture article. The ends of certain of the panels have flaps folded back upon the same to give extra thickness to the protector at the lower and upper ends of the article as desired.

[ 51 Apr. 4, 1972 FILLER FOR POLYGONAL SHAPED ARTICLES Inventors: James E. Roberts; Ralph E. Barrow; Robert B. Dickerson, all of Winston Salem, N.C.

Container Chicago, 111.

Filed: Feb. 9, 1970 Appl. No.: 9,830

Assignee: Corporation of America,

206/46 FR, 46 EN, 46 M, 62 R, 45.14 7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ferres ..229/14 C 1,240,518 9/1917 Wallace ..229/14C 2,984,399 5/1961 Gaulke.... ..229/14C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,101,271 3/1961 Germany ..229/14C Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Attorney-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg [5 7] ABSTRACT A corner protector for an article of furniture or similar article. The protector is formed from a cut and scored blank which is folded to define a tube consisting of a pair of panels connected along a fold line and having an included angle which can vary according to the corner angle of the article of furniture. A panel extends from distal portions of each of said panels and laterally of the sides of the article, each of said panels being connected to flanking panels folded into facing relationship and having end flaps thereof folded over and under the furniture article. The ends of certain of the panels have flaps folded back upon the same to give extra thickness to the protector at the lower and upper ends of the article as desired.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 4, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ROBERT B. DICKERSON JAMES E. ROBERTS BY RALPH E. BARROW @4222) AW ATTORNEYS Patented April 4, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT B. DICKERSON JAMES E. ROBERTS RALPH E. BARROW Wig 112k, l/QM ATTORNEYS FILLER FOR POLYGONAL SHAPED ARTICLES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The corner protector according to the present invention is characterized by a tube formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like, the tube having a transverse cross-section essentially in the shape of a polygon with a pair of intumed side panels adapted to contact portions of an article to each side of the corner thereof, the line of fold of such panels being co-extensive with the corner of the article. The structure according to the present invention is characterized by the fact that the included angle of such inturned panels can vary according to the shape of the article, irrespective of the polygonal cross-section thereof.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a corner protector according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming the corner protector according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a furniture article enclosed within a carton, and having certain of the corners thereof protected by the corner protector;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the placement of the protector at the corners of the article prior to folding lower tabs beneath the article;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the protector used with an article having a pentagonal cross-section.

The improved corner protector is referred to by the reference numeral 10A and is formed from a cut and scored blank 10. Protector 10A is adapted to protect the corners of a furniture article FA, enclosed within a container C.

Cut and scored blank 10 from which the protector 10A is formed consists of foldably interconnected central panels 11, intermediate panels 14 and flanking panels 17, central panels 11 being foldably connected along score lines 12, and intermediate panels 14 being foldably connected to central panels 11 along score lines 16. The flanking panels 17 are foldably connected to intermediate panels 14 along fold lines 18.

The score line 12 connecting the two central panels 11 is interrupted by a slot 13 facilitating the folding of the panels 11, and enabling, if necessary, a corner of the article FA to protrude therethrough.

The ends of the central panels 11 and the intermediate panels 14 have flaps 19 foldable with respect thereto along double score lines 21 to provide added stiffness to the panels 11 and 14 as will appear. Flap 19 has a pair of widened slots 22 therein, these being co-extensive with the score lines 16 extending to the flaps 19. In the same fashion the flaps 19 have widened slots 23 facilitating folding of the flaps 19, these being co-extensive with fold lines 12.

The cut and scored blank 10 is folded to form a structure as seen in FIG. 2 and denoted by the reference numeral 10A, the flaps 19 being first folded against the panels 11 and 14, the

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panels 17 being thereafter folded into overlapping relationship to provide a structure having a cross-section in the form of a polygon, with panels 11 extending inward, the latter being enabled to be in contact with sides S of the article FA flanking the comer CO.

Flaps 24 are folded along score lines 26 to abut the ends of the panels 11 and 14, and the flaps 24 are thus enabled to overlie the top of the article FA as seen in FIG. 4.

Lower flaps 27 are folded to position against the bottom of the article FA, which may rest upon a pallet P as seen in FIG. 6, and flaps 27 may be secured to the pallet P in any convenient manner as by staples, not shown.

As seen in FIG. 7, the structure 10A can equally as well pro tect the corner of a furniture article in the shape of a pentagon, by reason of the fact that the included angle between the panels 11 may be adjusted according to the angle at the comers of the article FA.

In FIG. 3 the furniture article is in the form of a hexagon, and it is believed obvious that the device may be equally well employed for other articles having other cross-sections and other polygonal shapes. If desired, the protector 10A need not extend around the bottom of the article, and need not be provided with the flaps 27, the flaps 24 resting upon the top of the article FA. Preferably, the panels 17 may be secured together by blind stapling of outer one panel 24 to inner panel 24, or may be secured to an intermediate panel 14 by means of gummed tape, stapling or the like.

Irrespective of the polygonal shape of the article FA, the panels 11 can vary their included angle accordingly. Moreover, the flanking panels 17 can always contact the walls of the container C, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 7 by way of example.

We claim:

1. A corner protector for an article of furniture or the like, said protector being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard and comprising:

a. central, intermediate and flanking panels foldably interconnected along fold lines;

b. said panels being folded along said fold lines to define a tube having:

i. said central panels extending inward along a fold line engageable with a corner of said article;

ii. said intermediate panels extending laterally of said article;

iii. said flanking panels being in overlapping relationship with respect to each other and having flaps foldable with respect thereto along the ends thereof;

c. the included angle between said central panels being variable as desired whereby said central panels are in contact with portions of said article flanking said corner thereof.

2. A comer protector according to claim 1 wherein said flaps on said flanking panels are foldable to a lapped position with respect to said article.

3. A corner protector according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate and central panels have flaps extending therefrom and foldable against said intermediate and central panels.

4. A corner protector according to claim 1 wherein the fold line connecting said central panels has a slot therein to enable the comer of said article to protrude into said tube. 

1. A corner protector for an article of furniture or the like, said protector being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard and comprising: a. central, intermediate and flanking panels foldably interconnected along fold lines; b. said panels being folded along said fold lines to define a tube having: i. said central panels extending inward along a fold line engageable with a corner of said article; ii. said intermediate panels extending laterally of said article; iii. said flanking panels being in overlapping relationship with respect to each other and having flaps foldable with respect thereto along the ends thereof; c. the included angle between said central panels being variable as desired whereby said central panels are in contact with portions of said article flanking said corner thereof.
 2. A corner protector according to claim 1 wherein said flaps on said flanking panels are foldable to a lapped position with respect to said article.
 3. A corner protector according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate and central panels have flaps extending therefrom and foldable against said intermediate and central panels.
 4. A corner protector according to claim 1 wherein the fold line connecting said central panels has a slot therein to enable the corner of said article to protrude into said tube. 